Ventura county fire in California burns 65000 acres

"This is good news for the fire crews as the winds will not be driven quite as vigorously", a weather service statement said. According to the California Highway Patrol, that left no open routes between Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Southern California had been plagued by brush fires the past week, a result of dry weather and the strong Santa Ana winds. "Winds will continue to affect fire behavior by pushing the fire and keeping humidity low".

A voluntary evacuation warning means a potential threat to life and property exists from the fire, but it does not generally require leaving immediately, the spokesman said, although those with large animals to evacuate and people with access and functional needs were advised to leave immediately.

Melissa Rosenzweig, 47, was briefly back home Wednesday after evacuating from her Ventura house, which has been spared so far while most on her street had burned in the largest and most destructive of the region's fires.

Gusty Winds laid down Wednesday, giving firefighters some time to gain ground on the fire.

Across the wide I-405 freeway from the fire, the Getty Center art complex was closed to protect its collection from smoke damage.

The Thomas Fire has burned 96,000 acres with 5 percent containment on the third day of battling the blaze that's now burning its way into the Los Padres National Forest.

Amtrak said there would be no service Thursday from Santa Barbara to Ventura.